Just Ari: Chapter 4

Instructions

REUPLOAD: THE STORY IS WRITTEN HERE. NOT IN THE PROJECT. Recommended viewer age is to be at least 13 years of age. Please read responsibly. Thank you! Just Ari- A LGBTQ+ Story Welcome to the life of Ari, a frantic person with a messy life, who somehow manages to get by. A person with bullies, shocking secrets, backstabbing friends, annoying parents, and a life threatening incident? That's Ari in a nutshell. If you also add Ari's gender identity. ----------------------------------------------------------- Some text may be hard to read or cut off, so here is the full chapter text ----------------------------------------------------------- "Um... Hi.. Mom?" I stumble over my words as I set my backpack down. Mom motions for me to sit in a chair. Right next to hers. At the dinner table. This can't be good. "Ariana. I've been meaning to have a little chat with you," she says sternly as I sit down. "I'd like to address... this situation," she looks me up and down, almost with a look of disgust on her face. Does..... does she- think I'm gross? Suddenly I hear a door swing open from upstairs and clomping down the stairway. I look over to see my older brother Aden poke his head around the corner. His black, messy hair is tied into a bun with some strands falling out of place. His dark doe eyes glisten as he looks at me, then at mom. "Um, mom, I'm leaving now to go hang with Jason." He brushes some hair out of his eyes and off his pale skin. Aden's practically me if I was 1. gorgeous (although I would NEVER say it to his face) 2. A boy 3. Older Other than that, we look almost identical. Well, we used to. Now I'm just my mom's "depressed daughter." My mom smiles at my brother, "Okay, hon. Just be back for dinner. Dad will be home with pizzas." "Aight, cool. See ya, mother dearest, and sister sweetest." He does finger guns as he slides out the front door, with a touch, no wait, a bucket load, of sarcasm when he says "sister sweetest." Although he's annoying, he's still a great brother. Oh, and DON'T EVER tell him I said that. Mom turns her gaze back to me and immediately her blue, bright eyes turn sour as she glares hard at me. "Anyways. For one, your teacher emailed me today and told me that you weren't paying attention in class," I roll my eyes. That old crusty man got me back. "And, besides that, you've been acting more... boyish lately. Dressing like, well, THAT," Mom points at my outfit. "I just... want you to dress normally, like my sweet beautiful daughter. I don't know why you'd want to hide that or even do a matter like, well, cutting your HAIR." She has a soft look on her face. She puts her hand on my arm. "Sweetie, you know I just want whats best for you." I don't hear the rest. It's almost like, the rest of the night was just a blur. Dad and Aden blabbing on about random things. Not even the pizza tastes good. And soon enough I'm sitting quietly in my bed. Midnight. Dark outside. Until, I hear talking from down the hallway. It sounds like.... Aden? I cautiously creep from my bedroom and down the hallway towards the bathroom and then, Aden's room. I press my ear on the door. Everything sounds.. muffled. It's risky but, I crack open the door a nodge. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But you know how dangerous it is. We can't seriously do anything about it. I mean, mom thinks I was just hanging out today. Yes, that WAS good. I hope we can do it again soon." Is he talking to Jason? What does he mean by "Today was good?" Why is his voice all romantic-sounding? "I know. I can't believe your parents didn't catch us." My heart pounds against my chest. Did he..... are they… really dating? Aden continues on into his phone, talking to Jason. I try not to faint as he talks about all his secrets. Well, I guess I can understand. Especially as he finally says, "I know. I can't wait for tomorrow too. I love you." Followed by a little "beep" from his phone. I stumble backwards into the darkened hallway trying to rush back to my room. Alas, as I open the door, I hear a deep, velvety voice behind me. Aden's voice. "And just WHAT do you think you are doing?" I freeze like a deer in headlights. Oh no. -----------------------------------------------------------------------